Hey Lao Shen, want a chance

“May I ask what business this senior has with our ancestor?”

A Day Meridian elder respectfully approached Chen Yi and inquired.

Chen Yi let out a faint laugh, casting a deliberate glance at Shen Wanquan.

“The Shen family has been raising ghosts and doesn’t even know it…”

Shen Wanquan instantly broke out in a cold sweat, likely calculating in his mind: “Is he talking about me?” “It shouldn’t be me, right?” “How could he possibly know what I’ve done?”

Chen Yi purposely scared Shen Wanquan, making him live a life of anxiety before being brought to justice.

There was no need to worry about tipping him off—for a Martial God, the mortal realm wasn’t all that vast.

“What does senior mean by that?”

“It’s not important. I want to see Old Shen because I have a monumental opportunity to offer him.”

The Shen elder was speechless.

Our ancestor is already a Martial God—what opportunity does he need?

“Please wait a moment, senior. We’ll go inform the family head to discuss this.”

“Fine, but don’t keep me waiting too long. My patience has its limits.”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Before long, Shen Yue arrived in a flurry.

A few Martial Kings showed up at the same time as Shen Yue.

These Martial Kings were responsible for guarding the Star Source. Hearing that the thief had walked right into their den, they rushed over, afraid the scoundrel might escape.

“Where is the thief! Die quickly!!”

Shen Yue, seeing this, used the Stellar River Divine Art to press them to the ground and manually silenced them.

“Shut up! You blind fools!”

It was no wonder the Shen family’s high-ranking members were so two-faced in front of Chen Yi.

In the current mortal realm, there was truly only one living Martial God in the full sense of the word.

Xiaoyao God spent more time in the Time Chamber than in reality—living meant little more than existing.

Shen Yang, a hardcore shut-in, rarely left the Star Realm. He relied on soul-possession to extend his life, often in poor health—effectively, only half alive.

Only Hua Wuyan was completely normal, without that heavy artificial feel.

But comparing Hua Wuyan to Chen Yi was like comparing the dying embers of a sunset to the rising sun.

Seeing a Martial God so young and full of life, Shen Yue couldn’t help but feel awe and admiration.

It meant that from now on, the mortal realm would belong to this young Martial God’s era!

“Senior wishes to see our ancestor? I will arrange it immediately.”

Shen Yue was much older than Chen Yi—at least a century.

He still had to call him “senior.”

Chen Yi teased him.

“You junior are quite savvy. Hmm, not bad.”

Soon, Chen Yi entered the Star Realm and saw Shen Yang playing chess by himself under a willow tree.

“Old Shen, playing chess again?”

Shen Yang didn’t look up, but his divine sense had already scanned Chen Yi hundreds of times.

“Again? Have we met before?”

“Haha, you wouldn’t understand if I told you.”

“Wouldn’t understand?”

Old Shen hated being told he didn’t understand something.

But he didn’t dig deeper. He was more curious about where this Martial God named Chen Yi had come from.

“May I ask where you studied, sir?”

“Self-taught!”

“Not convenient to say? Hah, what power in this world still needs to hide from the Shen family?”

Chen Yi smiled without speaking.

“I’m telling the truth.”

Perhaps finding Chen Yi insincere, Shen Yang’s face showed a trace of anger.

“You stole the Star Source, made off with the Karmic Mirror, and now come to my face spouting nonsense—do you think the Star Domain has no one?!”

A powerful aura burst from Shen Yang, reeking of scholarly intensity.

Chen Yi remained calm and composed. He picked up a red chess piece from the board and captured a black piece.

“Old Shen, don’t get angry. I’m not taking your things for nothing. Just think of it as trading the Star Source and Karmic Mirror for an opportunity.”

“Ridiculous. I’ve already reached the peak of the mortal realm. What good is any opportunity, no matter how great?”

“You said it yourself: the ‘peak of the mortal realm.’”

Shen Yang’s expression instantly changed.

The old scholar was razor-sharp in his thinking and immediately caught on.

“You know a way to the Real Realm?”

“It’s always easy talking to a clever person.”

“Impossible. Throughout history, every Martial God who tried to cleave the heavens has failed. That unprecedented great demon is still wailing in the wilderness. The path to opening the heavens is a dead end—no one can walk it!”

“Who said anything about cleaving the heavens?”

Shen Yang understood again. He even stood up, pointing at Chen Yi with a trembling finger.

“Could it be… you know where the Immortal Ascension Path is?”

“Why so excited?”

“If the Immortal Ascension Path exists, then it’s not just one person who can go to the Real Realm to pursue a higher level…”

So that was why Shen Yang was so worked up—the Immortal Ascension Path would allow extraordinary talents, once held back by the world’s rules, to never have to die with regrets. As long as they wished, a longer road would stretch out beneath their feet!

After his excitement faded, Shen Yang calmed down and looked at Chen Yi with suspicion.

“You and I are hardly close, and we even have a bit of bad blood. An invaluable treasure like the Immortal Ascension Path—you’re just telling me about it?”

“Of course, it’s not that simple…”

Chen Yi didn’t tell Shen Yang the location of the Immortal Ascension Path, but he did tell him that enemies guarded it and didn’t want outsiders sharing it.

The enemies were strong, and Chen Yi didn’t want to take the risk alone. He hoped the Shen family would contribute manpower.

Once they secured the Immortal Ascension Path, everyone would share the opportunity equally.

Chen Yi’s proposal sounded reasonable, but Shen Yang was still cautious and didn’t agree on the spot.

“You’re not messing with me, are you?”

“Do I look that idle?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Chen Yi covered his face.

“Old Shen, relying on your descendants to keep extending your life isn’t a solution. You’re a genius—if you go to the Real Realm, you’ll definitely advance further, gain longer life, and greater power…”

“Power is secondary. I’d rather know what kind of studies the cultivators in the Real Realm are pursuing.”

“That’s so like you.”

Shen Yang mulled it over.

He figured that even if he was tricked, he wouldn’t lose much.

“Fine. Tell me where the Immortal Ascension Path is and how many soldiers you need.”

We don’t need numbers—we need elites and high-end combat strength. But we can’t be too few, since the enemy has some numbers too. As for the location, I won’t tell you yet. Gather the Shen family army at Golden Beach as soon as possible and wait for me there.

Golden Beach was on the northern shore of the continent, from which one could set sail into the Northern Sea.

Shen Yang nodded, about to speak.

“Old Shen, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Since you know about my situation, I’m not afraid to tell you: this body of mine is nearing its limit. Without a new one, my cultivation is unstable. I’m afraid I can only do so much in the fight for the Immortal Ascension Path.”

Chen Yi tapped his fingers on the chessboard.

“I might be able to help you with that… maybe.”

Chen Yi didn’t want to force Chen Qingshan, so he added a “maybe.”

“By the way, I need to borrow some materials from the Shen family.”

“What materials?”

“A set of materials to forge a divine artifact. For the Shen family’s foundations, it’s just a drop in the bucket.”

Shen Yang chuckled wryly.

“I haven’t even seen the fruit yet, and you’re already reaping the harvest.”

“I can give you another piece of information. Once you confirm I haven’t lied, we can trade. Deal?”

“What information?”